Frakturs, Geburts, and Taufscheins

Frakturs, Geburts, Taufscheins, all names given to Pennsylvania German decorated works on paper. These illustrated manuscripts were created mainly in the mid 1700's to mid 1860's.

Fraktur is a type of German lettering or typeface used from the fifteenth century until World War II.  It is from the Latin word fractura, meaning a break. (the broken or fractured style of lettering) 

Examples:

𝔄 𝔅 ℭ 𝔇 𝔈 𝔉 𝔊 ℌ ℑ 𝔍 𝔎 𝔏 𝔐 𝔑 𝔒 𝔓 𝔔 ℜ 𝔖 𝔗 𝔘 𝔙 𝔚 𝔛 𝔜 ℨ 

𝔞 𝔟 𝔠 𝔡 𝔢 𝔣 𝔤 𝔥 𝔦 𝔧 𝔨 𝔩 𝔪 𝔫 𝔬 𝔭 𝔮 𝔯 𝔰 𝔱 𝔲 𝔳 𝔴 𝔵 𝔶 𝔷

𝕬 𝕭 𝕮 𝕯 𝕰 𝕱 𝕲 𝕳 𝕴 𝕵 𝕶 𝕷 𝕸 𝕹 𝕺 𝕻 𝕼 𝕽 𝕾 𝕿 𝖀 𝖁 𝖂 𝖃 𝖄 𝖅 

𝖆 𝖇 𝖈 𝖉 𝖊 𝖋 𝖌 𝖍 𝖎 𝖏 𝖐 𝖑 𝖒 𝖓 𝖔 𝖕 𝖖 𝖗 𝖘 𝖙 𝖚 𝖛 𝖜 𝖝 𝖞 𝖟

Later, the name fraktur has been referred to as folk art or illustrated manuscripts.

Geburts were birth certificates, Taufscheins were baptismal certificates. These two were the majority of the frakturs that were made. 

Most of the earliest frakturs were hand drawn and written in the fraktur lettering. A school teacher or minister were usually the artist or scrivener.

These frakturs were drawn with hearts, birds, flowers and could contain the family name, locations, dates of births, baptisms, weddings and more. These can give wonderful genealogical  information as the government did not keep vital records until much later.

The Marx Room Historical Room is fortunate to have a small collection of original frakturs. One in particular, is supposedly done by Johannes Ernst Spangenberg, otherwise known as the Easton Bible Artist. Johannes was born in 1748 and died "mid November 1814". In the Easton 1786 Tax list, he is listed as a Scrivener. He was a teacher in Easton and also served as an Adjutant Officer in the Revolutionary War under Col. Peter Kichline's Battalion of the Flying Camp. John and his family's applications for a Revolutionary  pension, it is mentioned that John passed away in "mid November 1814" and was interred in the "Hay's (Lutheran) graveyard" in Williams Township (now South Easton). There is no tombstone or death notice to verify that. This fraktur is now hanging in the Marx Room after being sent to Philadelphia for restoration. It is a taufschein for Carl Ritschard (Richards) in Williams Township, Northampton County, PA, born December 29, 1808. The fraktur was done in 1809.

This is before restoration of the taufschein.

 

This is the result. (Colorings has not changed, these are a result of camera exposure)

 

Some frakturs in the Marx Room collection.

 Before restoration

After restoration

 

             Baptismal fraktur for Christian Gernet 1799.1 sheet : ill. ;  33 x 40 cm                        Christian Gernet, son of Johannes and Elisabetha Gernet was born March 28, 1786 in Salisbury Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Lutheran parents and was baptized by Gotz. Sponsors were the grandparents Christian Gernet and wife.           The certificate was prepared in 1799 by Gottfied Miller. 

 

Before restoration.

 

After restoration.

 

Baptismal fraktur for Maria Ellisabeth Wotring Pennsylvania 1809.1 sheet : ill. ; 34 x 41cm  Maria Elisabeth Wotring, daughter of Johannes and Elisabeth (Lattig) Wotring, was born March 11, 1809, in Williams Township, Northampton County, Pa., and baptized April 18 by Thomas Bump, Reformed pastor; sponsors were grandparents Philip Wotring and Maria Elisabeth. The surname is also spelled Wottring, Wotteringer, and Wotringer in the document. Prepared by Martin Brechal 

 

 Early frakturs are highly collectable. The more unique the design, the more desirable they are. One fraktur sold for $145,000 at an auction in 1991. So check your attics and basements. These beautiful certificates are another way to shed light on your ancestors.